Combining Swarms

Started by leechmann, July 18, 2010, 04:45:27 PM

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leechmann

July 18, 2010, 04:45:27 PM
I've caught 5 swarms in the last three weeks. Two of the swarms were very good size and are doing well on thier own. The three other swarms are doing ok but the queens are unable to lay lots of eggs, because there are not enough bees to take care of them. So, I'm thinking of combining these three swarms. My Question is, what if these bees are different kinds. It is possible that one of these swarms are Carnolians. The rest of the bees are Italians. Will they get along if combined or will they fight to the finish? What would you experienced bee keepers do?

Thank You

hardwood

#1
July 18, 2010, 04:57:21 PM
If it were me I'd pinch the queen in the smallest colony 24 hrs before combining (news paper method) with the largest of the three as long as that queen is showing good brood patterns. Wait a couple of days and pinch the queen from the third colony and combine as before. My 2 cents

Of course, here in FL I would most likely nurse all three.

Scott
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

Kathyp

#2
July 18, 2010, 05:04:03 PM
doesn't matter what 'breed' they are.
The people the people are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.

Abraham  Lincoln
Speech in Kansas, December 1859

Finski

#3
July 19, 2010, 09:12:45 AM
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When I started beekeeping 47 years ago, I bought lorts of swarms. I noticed that 4 kg bees occupye 2 langstroth boxes and it is a good start to the hive. They made one box brood and one box honey. After 4 weeks I had 3 box bees and it continued growing.

The swarm is in trouble when it is 3 weeks old and new bees have not emerged: where to put honey, pollen and brood.

I had this summer a one box nuc which brought 45 kg honey from raspberry blooming in 10 days. It had 5 brood frames only.
It is difficult to get the colony build up if the hive is at same time filled by honey. Only way is to add bees that they can handle the mesh.
.
Language barrier NOT included
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